An Arrival Most Unexpected (Sorren)

[Ceried'a Itonris Sa'achern]

Feeling the hand move around her waist Ceried'a gave a small gasp, letting her body move forward even more until there was no space between them for that briefest moment. She couldn't breath, but it was the good kind of suffocation, the dizzy feeling and thrill of adrenaline, the blood pumping through her ears to wash away the cheers around them as she reached up with her free hand and removed the blindfold. His kiss was different from the soldier's, different from her husbands...it was so warm and soft, like a gentle flame that threatened to engulf her like an inferno the longer she let her lips linger on his.

Her own lips parted as she felt Sorren deepen the kiss but before anything more scandalous had happened he'd pulled away. She stood there, pressed against him feeling somewhere between lost and utterly content as her hand still on him stroked his shoulder as she looked up at him from under the brush of eyelashes. "It seems our dear Baron has bravely taken a kiss so that I may not look like a fool." The others laughed softly as she handed the blindfold off to another young man, "Allow me to take him from this game and give him some wine so that he can wash his mouth of the taste of a noble." With that she gave him the tiniest push from the circle, her touch not straying far from him as she moved to take two glasses of wine poured to the brim with the sweet concoction.

Once she was sure the next game had caught the others attention she stared at the Baron with a gentle smile. "I am glad that you stayed for that second round of the game. Heaven forbid I have to kiss someone I do not want to kiss a second time." Her teeth found purchase on her bottom lip for a moment before sipping at her wine, letting it slip down her throat until a good third of the glass was warming her belly. "As much fun as young boy soldiers seem, they are not the one's I want holding me like that." She reached forwards and let her hand brush over the crimson shirt, letting her words play like a double-edge sword to see who would get cut. This was in a way much like their sparring before, only this...this was a greater risk then a cut and blood drawn.

[Sorren Alotear Radvhet]

Sorren was dazed by the thoughts and emotions chasing themselves around in circles in his mind. Ceried'a's body pressed against his, her hand on his shoulder, swept away any words he might have begun to speak. He let her guide him away from the group, taking the glass of wine she offered but not drinking from it.

"I am glad that you stayed for that second round of the game. Heaven forbid I have to kiss someone I do not want to kiss a second time. As much fun as young boy soldiers seem, they are not the one's I want holding me like that."

This took him by surprise. Was she saying what he thought she was saying? So perhaps he had not imagined that there was something between them, that it was not just wishful thinking on his part. But he shook his head, realizing he could not act on any of this. He had already crossed a line back in Ingril. The way things were going, he might do it again, and that would be a betrayal to his king. He had to say something now, before he was tempted any further. He drained his glass halfway and set it down on a table nearby. He would need a bit of liquid courage for this.

"Ceried'a," he began in a low, quiet voice, his hazel eyes looking straight into her deep brown ones, "I don't know where this is going, but we can't--that is, despite what I may feel about you, I must think of the king. When I assumed control of the barony, I swore my allegiance to Carthonia and its royal family. I cannot just ignore that. And I don't know if I can trust myself around you."

Gods, how she tempted him. A word, a touch, from her would cause him to falter in his resolve. And yet he could not allow himself to let go of his loyalty, though he wished he could. He didn't know how she would react to his words. He tried to keep his face free of the pain it caused him to say such things, but he knew she would see it reflected in his eyes, and there was nothing he could do about that.

[Ceried'a Itonris Sa'achern]

"I don't know where this is going, but we can't--that is, despite what I may feel about you, I must think of the king. When I assumed control of the barony, I swore my allegiance to Carthonia and its royal family. I cannot just ignore that. And I don't know if I can trust myself around you."

Ceried'a listened to Sorren as he spoke soon after polishing off about half of his drink. She was surprised she'd gotten such a reaction from him, but it was his words that made her lips pull tight in a polite sort of smile while she felt the press of tears build up behind her eyes. Maybe she was just tired from her ride, or maybe too much wine, but whereas she usually would brush off the words and move along from this rejection she couldn't help but feel something dig into her chest painfully like a blade.

"Sorren..." She started quietly, the roar of the party nearly drowning her voice as she moved in a little closer setting her own cup to the side. With people all around them this was hardly the place to even try to talk about something like this. "Not here."

While she should have walked away the Queen firmed her resolve as she reached out and grabbed Sorren's hand before suddenly turning on her heel and walking. He could simply break away and leave her, reject her once more, but she held tight and kept walking. Though she didn't know the house that well she knew where she was going as far as what she'd seen, and soon she was back up in Sorren's study.

No maids or guards were around, many busy with their drinks and fun...leaving their exit unseen and their location rather secretive now as she made her way into the room. Once she was sure no one was around she closed the study door tightly before looking up at Sorren before she moved in very close to him her fingers tangling in his hair as she pulled him down for one more kiss...quick, heated before she wrenched herself away looking at him with sadness and anger swirling in her gaze.

"You made a oath...and you are a good man for wanting to follow it, but do you even know who you made that oath to? The real man you are bound to?" She asked, pulling a little further from Sorren going over to the slowly dying fire, "Tell me honestly Sorren, do you truly know your king? Or your Queen? Of the lives you're sworn to?"

[Sorren Alotear Radvhet]

'I've said too much,' he thought with regret as he saw the slight play of emotions over Ceried'a's face. Suddenly he wanted to take it all back and just continue with the festival as if nothing had happened. But perhaps it was for the best, to break this off now before it went too far. If only he knew a way to do it without hurting her.

He was surprised when she took his hand and pulled him away from the festivities and up the stairs again. Even though he wasn't sure what her intentions were, he simply let her take the lead. Before he knew it, they were in his study again and she was closing the door, then grabbing him and kissing him briefly before looking up at him with a strange mix of sadness and anger in her eyes. Her words stung, but he listened and watched her go to the fireplace, a stunned expression on his face. It took him a moment to gather his thoughts before he could answer.

"It's true I may not know the king as well as other nobles. Indeed, it could be said I knew his father better than I know him, but..." He came forward, past the table to stand a few feet from her. He had dropped his guard entirely, and his confusion could be heard plainly in his voice. "I don't understand. What are you trying to say?"

[Ceried'a Itonris Sa'achern]

"Please! What person can you say truly knows the King at all?" Ceried'a snapped rather viciously, as she turned, her back to the fire as it warmed it, put her face into the shadows as it outlined her body, the sheer cloth of her dress letting just the slightest shadow of hips be seen. "The only people who see him when he's not leading, not pretending in front of everyone else is his wife and children." Her voice held nothing warm in it as she spoke, dark eyes narrowed as she paced from the fire.

"That man is not noble save for by blood...the notion of the word can only apply to him in the fact that he hasn't chosen to go into bloody war for his own pleasure. The rest is simply illusion Sorren. In reality outside of the robes and crown he is a cruel man who care only of himself and his own needs." Fingers curled tightly into fists, nails cutting halfmoons into her palm, "I was fourteen, barely a woman and I was forced to marry him. If I had a choice I would not be Queen of all Carthonia." Moving to the window she looked over the snow covered grounds, fat flakes floating down to join them creating a hushed world muted by the soft whiteness. This was her kingdom, but at a price. It was hard not to use 'was' instead of 'is' to describe her late husband, but she forced it for the safety of her world.

"The only solace that came from that union was my children...though I would hardly call the process of creating them enjoyable. That man only cares of his own pleasures. Once I had bore him two sons he saw other lovers, the only reason my daughter is here is because of such a festival as this where he was kept close to the palace and not the brothels." She laughed, the sound dark and nasty like tar in her throat. One hand moved up to glass of the window, pressing there to feel the cold as her voice softened looking at her own transparent reflection as well of that of the Baron. "Of course now I've found a second pleasure that this forced life has brought me..."

Turning she sat on the window sill, "Sorren you are a good man, a great man, better than any I've ever met. I am not asking you to stop protecting our kingdom, I'm not asking you to betray your King as a Baron of this land. However, I am asking you...as a man to love and want me as a woman. If you cannot then I will leave, go back to the party and then in the morning I will leave your home and you shall never have to deal with me again other than out of pleasantries, but if you can please just tell me Sorren." She looked up at him, her guard falling as her gaze showed how tired she was of pretending and holding back to someone else's expectation.

[Sorren Alotear Radvhet]

The baron was struck speechless by this side of the queen he had never seen before. There was a bitterness in her words that startled him. He had glimpsed the young girl inside her struggling to be free, but only now was he beginning to understand what she was struggling against. He cursed silently at himself, remembering his comments about how lucky the king was to have a wife like her. He had not realized then, but those words must have hurt her. He hated to see her like this, wanted to take away all the pain and anger she was feeling at this moment.

Then she said things he had only dreamed she might say. He had never intended to betray his king, but in light of what he had just heard, he felt as if his heart would burst if he didn't go to her. He came forward, covering the distance between them in a few long strides, and gathered her into his arms, hugging her close to his chest. He closed his eyes to keep the tears from showing.

"No, please don't go anywhere. I love you. Stay here with me." He didn't care if he was being too bold. Right now, he couldn't help it.

[Ceried'a Itonris Sa'achern]

Perhaps she was tired from her ride, or too much good wine, but as Ceried'a sat there looking at Sorren she felt her will to fight every emotion she was feeling right now begin to crumble. Tears pricked at the edge of her eye, threatening to spill over as she bowed her head, not finished with her words unsure of just what would happen now.

Part of her thought Sorren would cast her out despite whatever feelings he may or may not have for her. She'd leave in the morning ahead of those nobles who'd probably be sore from their festivities and whatever their drink got them into that night. Perhaps when the time came for her to cast him away she could speak with him once more, but maybe even then he'd be disgusted of her for her tricks...for allowing herself to be used as a pawn in political games.

Hearing the first few boot falls coming towards her she jerked a little, her body tensing. "Sorren, I'm sorry I should..." Before she could utter that she could leave his arms were around her pulling her in tightly to a strong chest. It was hard, but still so gentle as she let her head lay against his body listening to the heartbeat that whispered through layers of clothes.

"No, please don't go anywhere. I love you. Stay here with me."

Brown eyes widened as she listened to those words over the rumble of breath and the thumping of blood being pumped through his chest. Her hands that rested on his body moved slowly to push herself away just enough so that she could look up at him now.

Love.

The word hit her, as if a hand just wrapped around her own heart and squeezed. Never once had she heard someone say that to her. In all her life, waiting to hear that, and she let it fill the darkened room.

"Sorren..." She repeated his name softly this time as one hand slipped up to touch his cheek. "Say it again. Please...say that just once more."

[Sorren Alotear Radvhet]

As Ceried'a pulled back slightly, looking up at him with wide eyes, he suddenly wondered if maybe he had reacted too hastily. He'd gone too far, said too much too soon. With her words, she had torn down the walls he'd built to protect himself, and maybe the outpouring of emotion had been too much. He didn't know what he would do if she rejected him now.

But she didn't. Instead, she asked him to repeat what he'd said to her. He blushed slightly as he realized exactly what those words had been. The touch of her hand on his cheek reassured him, and he looked at her with warmth in his hazel eyes.

"I love you, Ceried'a. Stay with me?"

The latter came out like a question, but he didn't wait for an answer before brushing his lips against hers, the promise of a kiss in itself a question which he waited for her to answer.

[Ceried'a Itonris Sa'achern]

It was like a great dam had broken once Sorren had embraced her, she stood against him, holding him. Tears slipped down her cheeks, she was just so tired of holding back, tired of having to pretend to be above emotions and desires. So much had been sacrificed over the time since she'd first carried the crown upon her head and now none of that mattered as she clung to the Baron.

Hearing those words once more from Sorren's lips she felt her heart swell as a smile pulled across painted lips though the tears still spilled. As he leaned in close to her, her own body moving to close the distance once more between them as her lips met his in a kiss.

Hands slipped up to circle around Sorren's neck, bracing herself against him as she returned his kiss before slowly breaking it. "I would stay with you forever if I could." She whispered softly pressing up once more, nuzzling against his throat as she let her lips brush against his pulse before moving to kiss him lightly, "I'm yours." Tonight she wanted no more of the festival, no more of the nobles and peasants. Now she only wanted Sorren with her as the sound of music and jovial voices grew and echoed through the noble house.